| Romanian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Forțele Aeriene Române | |
 Emblem of the Romanian Air Force | |
| Founded |
|
| Country |  Romania |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 11,700 personnel |
| Part of | Romanian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Bucharest |
| Anniversaries | 20 July[2] |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of the Air Force Staff | Lieutenant general Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi[3] |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Military colors |  |
| Identification flag (obverse) | .svg) |
| Aviator badge |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F-16AMMLU |
| Attack helicopter | IAR 330 SOCAT |
| Trainer helicopter | IAR 316 |
| Utility helicopter | IAR 330L/M Puma |
| Reconnaissance | Antonov An-30 |
| Trainer | F-16BM,IAR 99,Iak-52 |
| Transport | Antonov An-26,C-130 Hercules,C-27J Spartan |
TheRomanian Air Force (abbr.RoAF,Romanian:Forțele Aeriene Române) is theair force branch of theRomanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, five air bases, a logistics base, an air defense brigade, an air defense regiment and anISR brigade. Reserve forces include one air base and two airfields. In 2022, the Romanian Air Force employed 11,700 personnel.[4] The current chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff isLieutenant general Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, who succeededLieutenant generalViorel Pană on 29 November 2023.[3][5]
The Romanian Air Force was first formed as the Military Aeronautics Service on 1 April 1913, transformed into theRomanian Air Corps in 1915. TheArmy-subordinated Air Corps was reorganized as the independentRoyal Romanian Air Force on 1 January 1924, then converted to the present-day Air Force in 1949. The Air Force went through a modernization plan in the 1990s and early 2000s, dropping thecommunist-era organization system in 1995 and adopting aNATO-compatible one instead as the country was preparing tojoin the Alliance.
Currently, the Romanian Air Force operates theF-16 Fighting Falconmultirole aircraft. The Romanian Air Force also operatesC-130 Hercules,C-27J Spartan andAn-26 transport airplanes andIAR 330 helicopters. IAR 330 Puma SOCAT helicopters have been modernized by theRomanian Aviation Industry (IAR) in cooperation withElbit Systems (fromIsrael) forattack missions. The Romanian Air Force also includes locally builtIAR 99 Șoim jets, in general only used for training of the young pilots.
In July 2023, following aSupreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) meeting, the plan of hosting an F-16 training center in Romania was approved. The aim is for this center to become a regional training hub for Romanian and other allied fighter pilots, includingUkrainians.[6] To support this decision,an international coalition of 11 nations,[a][7] as well as Ukraine was formed during the2023 Vilnius summit. As part of this initiative, Romania is providing the necessary infrastructure of the 86th Air Base, the Netherlands provides the F-16 aircraft, andLockheed Martin with its subcontractorDraken International provide the instructors and technicians.[8][9] TheEuropean F-16 Training Center became operational in November 2023,[10] and started training Ukrainian pilots in September 2024 after a first group of Romanian pilots.[11][12] On 2 April 2025, it was reported that the F-16s used at the training center would be transferred to Romanian service thus forming a fourth squadron which would be used for training purposes.[13] The 18 Dutch F-16s were formally transferred to Romania on 3 November under a symbolic price of 1 euro.[14]
Due to the old age of theMiG-21 LanceRs, the Romanian Air Forceprocured F-16 fighters from partner states. In 2013, Romania signed a contract withPortugal for 12 F-16 A/B Block 15 MLU fighters.[15] Under thePeace Carpathian program, the first six fighters entered service with the Romanian Air Force in September 2016, another three have been delivered in November and the last three have entered service in 2017. Romania signed a contract in 2019 with Portugal for another 5 F-16 A/B Block 15 MLU fighters, which were delivered by March 2021.[16][17]
Another contract, announced in December 2021, for an additional 32 F-16s was signed with Norway for €388 million. The first delivery of Norwegian F-16s took place in 2023.[18] Under the contract, the F-16s will undergo the modification to the M6.5.2 Romanian configuration with US support before delivery.Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services provides support, maintenance and training of Romanian technical personnel.[19][20]
On 2 February 2022, thePresident of Romania stated the intent to purchase thefifth-generationF-35joint strike fighter as part of its Air Force modernization.[21] On 11 April 2023, CSAT approved theF-35 acquisition plan.[22] The contract was signed on 21 November 2024.[23] The F-35 program is divided in two stages, first of 32 aircraft and the second of 16 aircraft for a total of 48 F-35s which will replace the F-16s between 2034 and 2040.[24]
In 1818, during the reign ofJohn Caradja, the prince ofWallachia, an unmanned hot air balloon was flown offDealul Spirii inBucharest.[25] On 2 July [O.S. 20 June] 1874, Marius Willemot, the owner of the hydrogen balloon namedMihai Bravul [ro] flew together withMajorsIacob Lahovary,Constantin Poenaru and Dumitrescu overBucharest. The last flight took place on 19 [O.S. 7 July] 1874, Willemot flying together with ColonelNicolae Haralambie,Ion Ghica and a third person. The balloon had made its first flight inParis on 27 March of the same year.[26]
The first aeronautical unit of Romania was established in 1893 under the 1st Telegraph Company in the 1st Engineer Regiment. The role of this unit was to operate theobservation balloons for aerial surveillance in support of the artillery units defending thefortifications of Bucharest. In 1913, the unit was reorganized into the "Aerostation Company" which became part of the Military Aeronautics Service.[27][28]
On 20 November 1909, theChitila Piloting School was formed as ajoint venture by Mihail Cerchez. The school, conducted by French flight instructors, had five hangars,bleachers for spectators and workshops where theFarman airplanes were built under license. It was opened on 9 July 1910, led by the chief flight instructor and director of the school René Guillemin who was soon replaced by Michel-Paul Molla after an accident.[29][30] The first pilot licensed at Chitila wasSublocotenentȘtefan Protopopescu on 9 July 1911.[31] The school closed in late 1912 due to financial difficulties, having trained six officers, but only licensed two.[32]
In November 1909, the Romanian Minister of War commissionedAurel Vlaicu to build theA Vlaicu I airplane at theBucharest Army Arsenal which first flew on 17 June 1910. On 28 September during the fallmilitary exercise, Vlaicu flew his airplane fromSlatina toPiatra Olt carrying a message, Romania thus becoming one of the first countries to use airplanes for military purposes.[33] Along with other Romanian pilots, Vlaicu flew reconnaissance missions during theSecond Balkan War.[34][35][36]Vlaicu III, the first metal aircraft in the world, was completed after his death, in May 1914.[37]
On 1 April 1913, the first law on the organization of military aeronautics was issued, thus forming the Military Aeronautics Service (Serviciul de Aeronautică Militară), later reorganized as the Romanian Air Corps (Corpul de Aviație Român) in 1915.[27] Organized as such, the Romanian aviation participated in the Second Balkan War, becoming the first air arm to perform operations over an enemycapital city, withleaflet drop missions flown overSofia.[38]
On the eve of Romania'sentrance into the war in August 1916, only 24 out of the 44 aircraft that had been imported and assembled atRezerva generală a aviației (RGA) were available. Another 20 aircraft were provided by the flight schools. These aircraft includedBristol T.B.8s,Bristol Coanda Monoplanes,Blériot XIs, and otherFarman aircraft.[39][40][41] One of the Vlaicu monoplanes,A Vlaicu II, crashed in 1913, while theA Vlaicu I was retired in 1914, leavingA Vlaicu III as the sole Romanian-made aircraft in theRomanian Air Corps.[42] Also in 1916, the Anti-aircraft Defence Corps was formed and equipped withsearchlights and locally convertedanti-aircraft guns, which included the "Negrei" and "Burileanu" systems.[27]
DuringWorld War I, Romania acquired 322 aircraft fromFrance and ex-RNAS aircraft fromGreat Britain includingNieuport 11 and17 single seat fighters andMorane-Saulnier LA andNieuport 12 two seat fighters,Caudron G.3,Henry Farman HF.20,Farman MF.11, andFarman F.40 & 46 artillery observation and reconnaissance aircraft,Caudron G.4,Breguet-Michelin BLM andVoisin LA bombers.[43] On 16 September 1916, a RomanianFarman F.40 downed anImperial German Air Service aircraft nearSlobozia; this was the first Romanian aerial victory. By the end of World War I, Romanian pilots had flown about 11,000 hours and 750 missions; however, this was unable to prevent the December 1916 Romanian offensive at theBattle of the Argeș from being defeated, which resulted in the occupation of southern Romania, and thearmistice on 6 December 1917 following theRussian revolution.[44] Still, the air corps played a significant role in the1917 summer campaign by maintainingair supremacy over the battlefield and providing reconnaissance for the ground troops, helping secure the victories in the three battles.[45] The Romanian Air Corps ended the war with 106–146 enemy aircraft shot down in total.[c] Other victories were achieved in theHungarian–Romanian War of 1919. According to theRomanian aerial victory standards, one pilot achieved the status offlying ace,Second lieutenantDumitru Bădulescu who scored eight victories, of which three unconfirmed.[27][46]
The beginning of theinterwar period saw a new organization for the Air Corps with units deployed throughout the country. The process of acquiring new aircraft to replace the old World War I ones also continued.[47] On 1 January 1924, the Army-subordinated Air Corps was reorganized as a separatemilitary branch. It was namedAeronautica Regală Română (ARR,lit. 'Romanian Royal Aeronautics') and placed under the command of the General Inspectorate of Aeronautics.[48] The number ofaviators and aircraft built either under license or locally designed also continued to grow.[49] This led to the formation of the aviation flotillas (air wings) in 1929 from the previousaviation groups.[50] By 1936, the Air Force's aircraft were largely obsolete and the mounting political and military tensions in Europe led to calls for a restructuring plan of the ARR. The drafted plan proposed equipping 36 new squadrons with modern combat aircraft within two years. Due to continued delays, delegations for acquiring new aircraft were only sent in April 1939. The aircraft inventory quickly grew in size with deliveries from Germany and the United Kingdom. Also in 1939, a large number of Polish aircraft arrived following theinvasion of Poland and were brought into Romanian service.[51][52]
When Romania, allied withNazi Germany, went to war against theSoviet Union on 22 June 1941, the ARR had 621 airplanes, including its locally madeIAR 80 fighters.[49] The air force accomplished hundreds of missions, contributing to Romania's recapture ofNorthern Bucovina andBessarabia, which had beenoccupied by the Soviet Union a year earlier. By the end of theSiege of Odesa, the Romanian military fighters claimed about 600 air victories.[53] The Royal Romanian Air Force fought on theEastern Front, and in the defense of the country againstAllied air raids, until 23 August 1944, bringing an important contribution to the great battles atStalingrad, inCrimea, and the Ukrainian fronts. Between 1941 and 1944, Romanian aircraft won 2,000 air victories.[49] The most famous flying aces were Captain PrinceConstantin Cantacuzino, who gained 69 certified victories by theRomanian air victory standards, CaptainAlexandru Șerbănescu, with 55 victories, and CaptainHoria Agarici with 13 victories.
In the aftermath ofKing Michael's Coup of 23 August 1944, Romania turned against Germany and joined theAllies. Between 24 and 31 August the ARR fought against theLuftwaffe, destroying 59 German aircraft.[54] Continuing the campaign against theAxis, the Royal Romanian Air Force, organized in the1st Air Corps, aided theSoviet andRomanian armies until 18 May 1945. The last victory scored by a Romanian pilot, although not officially registered, happened on 4 May when a SovietYak-3 was shot down in a clash with two RomanianBf 109s.[55] In the 1944-1945 campaign, the Air Force destroyed 126 enemy aircraft in battle[d] while losing 176 aircraft itself, of which 30 in combat and the rest mainly in accidents.[49][55]
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Starting in 1948, Romania tailored its military to Soviet concepts and doctrine. On 15 February 1949, the Aviation Command was established based on the Soviet model,regiments replacing the flotillas. A year later, on 1 April 1950, the military aviation was namedForțele Aeriene Militare (lit. 'Military Air Forces'). In the following years, new Soviet aircraft, such asYakovlev Yak-18,Polikarpov Po-2,Lavochkin La-9,Tupolev Tu-2, andIlyushin Il-10 entered service. The firstjet fighters –Yakovlev Yak-17s andYak-23s entered service in 1951, followed in 1952 by another 88MiG-15 aircraft. In 1958, the first supersonic fighterMiG-19 entered the inventory. Three years later, in February 1962, a new fighter was added to the inventory, theMiG-21, which represented one of the most effective fighters of that time.[56][57]
Starting in 1974, Romanian-made aircraft supplemented the already existing jets. The RomanianIAR-93attack aircraft flew its first flight on 31 October 1974. It represented a great step forward taking into account that it was the only jet fighter not made by the Soviets, the only one ever manufactured and operated by aWarsaw Pact country.[57][58]
In February 1956, the first helicopter squadron was established, followed by the reception of the first helicopter, a SovietMi-4, a few months later. In 1961, the squadron received other Mi-4s, whilePZL SM-1 andSM-2 helicopters equipped another squadron.[59] From 1968,Mi-8 helicopters also entered service. In 1971, the first Romanian-manufactured helicopters entered service – theSA 316 Alouette III produced under license by IAR as theIAR 316.[60] Renewing the aircraft fleet process went on with the firstMiG-23s arriving on 23 January 1979.[61]
On 14 May 1981, at 20:16, the SovietspaceshipSoyuz 40 was launched fromBaikonur to perform a common Romanian-Soviet flight, withLieutenantDumitru Prunariu andColonelLeonid Popov as commander on board.[57] During the early 1980s, the67th Fighter-Bomber Regiment and the49th Fighter-Bomber Regiment fromCraiova andIanca were equipped with new IAR-93s, which replaced old MiG-15s and MiG-17s. In December 1989, just a few days before theRomanian revolution against communism began,MiG-29 aircraft entered the Air Force inventory. Initially, 45 MiG-29s were ordered but only 21 were delivered, with the rest of the order being cancelled. The MiG-29s were assigned to the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons of the57th Fighter Regiment located at theMihail Kogălniceanu Airport.[62]
In 1990, the lastMiG-15 fighters were retired from the 49th Aviation Regiment, located in Ianca. In 1992, production of theIAR-93 was stopped following the start of theYugoslav Civil Wars. The last IAR-93s were retired in 1998. By 1 June 1995 the Air Force dropped the communist era regimental system in favor of a system consisting of Air Bases, Groups and Squadrons.[63]
Due to financial constraints, being unable to purchase new fighers, the Romanian Air Force decided to invest in the upgrade of the MiG-21 fighters. Following a competition between several companies, theIsraeli companyElbit was chosen, and the MiG-21M and MF/MF-75 versions were selected. The program was originally called the "DD program" as a tribute to the fighter pilot and writerDoru Davidovici, who died in a MiG-21 crash in 1989. The upgrade program was later renamed to "Lancer", designated as "LanceR" with capital "R" in Romania.[63] The first flight of an upgraded MiG, a LanceR 'A' ground attack variant, took place on 22 August 1995.[64]
The Romanian MiG-29 fleet was also intended to undergo modernization under a project named "Sniper" done byDASA,Aerostar and Elbit. The first flight took place on 5 May 2000 and the prototype was presented atILA 2000.[65][66] However, the modernization project was canceled due to various reasons and the MiG-29s were retired.[67]
Following its entry into thePartnership for Peace program in 1994, Romania started cooperating with other countries with the goal of eventually joining NATO. For this, Romanian Air Force aircraft participated in many local or abroad exercises and airshows. Before joining NATO, the 86th Group atBorcea started to convert into a NATO compatible unit by making improvements to the base's infrastructure, allowing its pilots to fly a fair amount of training hours and work according to NATO procedures.[63]
During the period of reorganization, starting from the year 2000, other aircraft models such as theMiG-23 fighters, theHarbin H-5 bombers and theIAR 823 andL-39 Albatros trainers were retired, the latter of which was retired in 2007.[63][68] Along with the retiring of airplanes, several bases were disbanded as well, including theAlexeni Airfield, the 49th Air Base from Ianca and the91st Air Base fromDeveselu. The93rd Air Base fromTimișoara was also disbanded and currently serves as an annex to the 71st Air Base.[63]
In the spring of 2009, the Romanian government decided to purchaseVSHORAD/SHORAD systems from France.[69] The deal includedMistralMANPADS andMICA VLsurface-to-air missiles.[70] However, after preliminary talks withMBDA in August, the deal was put on hold and canceled afterwards because of the defense cuts.[71]
In February 2010, CSAT signed an agreement with the United States for missile defence under whose terms land-basedSM-3 systems would be installed in Romania. On 3 May 2011, the president of RomaniaTraian Băsescu announced the location for the SM-3 systems: former Air Force base Deveselu in theOlt County.[72] The system includes 3 batteries with 24 SM-3 Block I rockets, manned by approximately 200 US soldiers (with a maximum of 500) initially under Romanian Air Force overall command.[72] The DeveseluAegis Ashore site was declared operational on 13 May 2016.[73]
On 23 May 2022, the MiG-21 LanceRs resumed flights after being suspended on 15 April 2022. The LanceR continued to fly for a period of one year, until 15 May 2023 when they were retired.[74][75]
On the starting day of theRussian invasion of Ukraine, two F-16s from the53rd Fighter Squadron were sent to intercept aSukhoi Su-27 of theUkrainian Air Force that was approaching Romanian airspace. The Su-27 was escorted to the95th Air Base where the pilot was taken by Romanian authorities.[76] TheUkrainian Minister of Defence,Oleksiy Reznikov, quickly apologized for this event and requested the return of the airplane and its pilot. After a maintenance team from Ukraine fixed the technical issues of the fighter,[77] the aircraft was returned without its weapons on 1 March, being escorted by twoMiG-21 LanceRs to the border where other Ukrainian airplanes took over.[78][79]
On 2 March 2022, a MiG-21 LanceR was lost while on an air patrol inside Romanian airspace nearCogealac, 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. This "occurred amid increased air police missions in Romania after the Russian invasion of Ukraine." An IAR 330 on a search and rescue mission for the missing MiG-21 crashed with seven fatalities.[80][81] The eight servicemen who died in the two accidents were posthumously promoted and decorated by thepresident of Romania.[82] Shortly after,fake news claiming that the Romanian MiG was shot down by UkrainianS-300 missile systems appeared. These claims were officially refuted.[83] The preliminary analysis published on 23 March showed that the crashes occurred due to human and environmental factors.[84]
As of 13 December 2022, Romanian Air Force and allied aircraft took part in more than 150air policing missions since the start of Russia's invasion. The majority of the missions involved Russian aircraft approaching Romanian airspace. Other missions involved coordinating civilian aircraft which had reported bomb threats or after their communications were interrupted.[85]
Romania began participating in theBaltic Air Policing in August 2007 with the deployment of four MiG-21 LanceR Cs atŠiauliai Air Base inLithuania. The Romanian detachment succeeded theFrench Air ForceMirage 2000Cs ofEscadron de Chasse 01.012 fromCambrai. The aircraft and most of the staff came from the71st Air Base. A total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, were part of the detachment: 63 served at Šiauliai, while other four served at theair traffic control centre inKaunas. Once the RoAF finished its three-month stint, aPortuguese Air Force detachment took over the mission. The Romanian detachment attracted attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it was only the second time aSoviet-era jet fighter was deployed to Šiauliai (Polish Air Force MiG-29s had been deployed there first in 2006).[86]
In November 2022, it was announced that Romanian F-16s were to participate in the Baltic Air Policing missions between April and July 2023.[87] TheCarpathian Vipers detachment formed by four F-16s and 100 servicemen primarily from the 53rd Fighter Squadron and led by Commander Cosmin Vlad was established 14 March 2023.[88][89] The Romanian detachment was deployed together with a Portuguese detachment, taking over the Baltic Air Policing mission from the previous French and Polish detachments.[90] The deployment ended on 31 July and was succeeded by a detachment ofItalianEurofighter Typhoons.[91] Between April and July, the Romanian fighters intercepted over 60Russian Air Force aircraft and participated in various multinational exercises totaling 600 fight hours.[92]
TheCarpathian Vipers detachment was deployed again in the Baltic Air Policing between April and August 2025. Working alongside the Polish Air ForceOrlik contingent, the detachment totaled over 400 flight hours in operational missions as well as exercises such as Ramstein Alloy, Hedgehog, andBALTOPS. The two units were succeeded byHungarianGripens andSpanish Typhoons detachments.[93]
After previously stating the intent of joining theEuro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) in 2015, Romania became a member of the program in 2017.[94] The first Romanianinstructor was sent to theSheppard Air Force Base in 2020.[95] As of 2023, Romania had 15 pilots at the American base, of which nine instructor pilots. The Romanian instructors participate in the training of all partner nation pilots on theT-6A Texan II andT-38C Talon aircraft.[96][97]
From October 2019 to November 2020, theCarpathian Pumas detachment of the 572nd Helicopter Squadron was deployed toMali as part ofMINUSMA. The detachment consisted of four IAR 330L helicopters and 120 personnel deployed on two rotations which took part inMEDEVAC,CASEVAC, troop and materiel transport, air patrol, and reconnaissance missions.[98] By the end of the mission to Mali, the detachment flew over 380 missions, of which approximately 100 transport missions, 200 reconnaissance missions, and 18 medical missions during which more than 40 patients were evacuated. It operated in theUN sectors in theMopti andKidal regions.[99]
One IAR 330 was damaged in August 2020. It was located at theDouentza base when the helicopter was overturned by a storm. No injuries occurred as a result of the accident.[100]
The Romanian Air Force General Staff represents the military concept-developing, command and executive structure providing Air Forces peacetime, crisis and wartime leadership in order to reach, maintain and increase, as required, theoperational level of the military subordinated structures so that to be able to operate under authorized commands responsible for military operations planning and conduct.[101]
The main task is to generate, mobilize, structure, equip, operationalize and regenerate the required forces, provide the logistic support necessary to conductmilitary operations and based on higher orders, take over both the Air Component Command and independent air operations command and control, through the Air Operations Centre.[101] Starting with 1 July 2010, the Romanian Air Force bases were renamed to Air Flotillas.[102] The names were kept until 1 December 2013, when they were changed back to Air Bases.[103]
Fighter base
Helicopters
Other flying units
AN/FPS-117(V) Radar station
Air Component Command
Air Signals and IT Centre
The current structure of the Romanian Air Force is as follows:[104]
TheCapu MidiaSurface-to-air Training and Air-to-SurfaceShooting Range, officially named the Air Defense Training School"Brigadier General Ion Bungescu", provides firing training, execution and evaluation facilities. It is located inConstanța County, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city of,Constanța.
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| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | Multirole | F-16AM/BM | 58 / 67[133][14] | 9 surplusNorwegian units to be delivered.[19][133] 24 used forconversion training.[134][18][135] 1 additional aircraft used for ground training.[136] | |
| F-35 Lightning II | United States | Multirole | F-35A | 0 | 32 on order.[137] | |
| Reconnaissance | ||||||
| Antonov An-30 | Soviet Union | Surveillance | 2[134] | |||
| Transport | ||||||
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | Transport | 1[134] | |||
| C-27J Spartan | Italy | Transport | 7[134] | |||
| C-130 Hercules | United States | Tactical airlifter | C-130B/H | 8[138] | 4 are C-130B, 4 are C-130H[134] | |
| Helicopters | ||||||
| IAR 330 | Romania | Utility / Transport | 57[134] | 22SOCAT used in agunship role | ||
| Trainer aircraft | ||||||
| IAR 99 | Romania | Jet trainer | 21[139] | |||
| IAR 316 | Romania | Trainer / Utility | 7[134] | Licensed builtSA316B | ||
| Yakovlev Yak-52 | Romania | Trainer | 14[134] | |||
Note: ThreeC-17 Globemaster III and fiveRQ-4D are available through theStrategic Airlift Capability, andAlliance Ground Surveillance programs[140][141]
The Romanian Air Force also has several anti-aircraft systems:[142]
| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAM | ||||||
| MIM-104 Patriot | United States | SAM system | 3 batteries[143] | |||
| MIM-23 Hawk | United States | SAM system | 8 batteries[142][144] | |||
| Air Defence Artillery | ||||||
| S-60 57mm | Soviet Union | Mobileanti-aircraft | Towed gun[145] | |||
| Radars | ||||||
| P-14 | Soviet Union | Radar | 2DVHF radar[146] | |||
| P-18 | Soviet Union | Radar | 2-dimensional air search radar[147] | |||
| P-37 (radar) [ro] | Soviet Union | Radar | E band/F band 2D radar[148] | |||
| PRV-13 [ro] | Soviet Union | Radar | Radar altimeter[149] | |||
| AN/TPS-79(R) | United States | 3D radar | 19[150] | Medium range 3D radar- co-produced in Romania[151][152] | ||
| AN/FPS-117 | United States | 3D radar | (5) FPS-117 / (7) TPS-77[153] | Long-range 3D radar | ||
Note: Additionally, fiveWSR-98D radars owned by theNational Meteorological Administration are used for both civilian and military purposes[129][154]
The Romanianroundel uses the colours of theRomanian flag. It is used onRomanian Armed Forces vehicles and Romanian Air Force aircraft.
.svg)
![Romanian Roundel used from 1949[155] to 1984](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aRoundel_of_Romania_(1947%25E2%2580%25931985).svg)
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Romanian Air Force[156] |  |   |   |   |   |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
| Mareșal | General | General-locotenent | General-maior | General de flotilă aeriană | Comandor | Căpitan-comandor | Locotenent-comandor | Căpitan | Locotenent | Sublocotenent | ||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanian Air Force[156] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plutonier adjutant principal | Plutonier adjutant | Plutonier-major | Plutonier | Sergent-major | Sergent | Caporalclasa I | Caporalclasa a II-a | Caporal clasa a III-a | Fruntaș | Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first aviator badges of Romania were issued in 1912. The current pilot badges were introduced in 1996 and use the same style as the World War I and World War II badges.
| Armed Forces |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Internal Affairs | |||||||
| Intelligence agencies | |||||||
